i am building a skill drain deck so i would like to know if fusuliar can be summoned without tribute and still be 2800 w/ skill drain activated.

to the best of my knowledge, yes. While it's in-hand, it's effect can be activated. once it hits the field, Skill Drain will negate the effect, resetting its attack power to 2800.

Yup. Fusiler's effect happens in the hand. Once its summoned, the reducing will occur, but since Skill Drain is out, it wont.